Combined foundation and backfill system

ABSTRACT

A backfill material fabricated from shredded rubber tires may be used to backfill different types of foundations to provide lateral support to the foundation without creating lateral forces that will push in a foundation wall. The backfill material may be used over substantially the entire height of the foundation wall. The backfill material also allows water to pass through the backfilled-section and into a drain pipe. In one embodiment of the invention, the backfill material is provided in one inch square pieces that will not settle and will not clog the openings in the drain pipe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/371,604 filed Apr. 10, 2002; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to backfill material and foundations that use backfill materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foundation backfill material fabricated from shredded tires that will not settle and compress to push in a foundation wall.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Foundations are backfilled with a backfill material because the hole dug for the foundation must be overdug to provide space for the foundation to be installed. A drainage system is typically installed adjacent the outer surface of the foundation to prevent water from accumulating adjacent the foundation. The drainage system typically includes a perforated drain pipe disposed adjacent the lower edge of the foundation. A backfill material is placed over the drain to substantially fill the overdig. Top soil is placed on top of the backfill to finish the backfill operation.

[0006] In the past, the backfill material has been gravel sized to not plug the perforated drain pipe and to allow water to drain down through the gravel to the drain pipe. A problem with gravel backfill material is that it will create a rather large lateral force against the foundation. In some cases, the lateral force will cause the foundation to bow inwardly or collapse. Another problem with gravel backfill is that the gravel will settle and create a depression adjacent the top of the foundation. The art thus desires a backfill material that will not settle and will not create a large lateral force against the foundation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention provides a backfill material fabricated from shredded rubber tires. The backfill material is used to backfill different types of foundations to provide lateral support to the foundation without creating lateral forces that will push in a foundation wall. The backfill material also allows water to pass through the backfilled-section and into a drain pipe. In one embodiment of the invention, the backfill material is provided in one inch square pieces that will not settle and will not clog the openings in the drain pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary foundation using the backfill material of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary piece of the backfill material.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0011] Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The backfill material of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10 in the accompanying drawings. Backfill material 10 may be fabricated from a rubber material such as the rubber obtained from discarded pneumatic tires. Such rubber may include metal or polymer reinforcing cords or bead rings. Backfill material 10 may be obtained by shredding pneumatic tires into pieces sized for backfill applications. Backfill material 10 may also be obtain by double shredding the tires and screening the shredded material to obtain desired sizes.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the average piece size of backfill material 10 is one inch square. One inch square has been found to be a successful size because it does not plug the openings in the drain pipe and will not settle after it is placed in the overdig. Some known landscaping drainage applications have used crumb rubber for drainage applications. Backfill material 10 cannot be as small as crumb rubber because crumb rubber would plug the drain openings and would compress too tightly. Compressed crumb rubber may create large lateral forces would not allow water to flow through the backfill fast enough for backfill applications. The lateral forces are substantially reduced because the rubber pieces are substantially lighter than gravel and because the rubber pieces lock together and resist settling. Backfill pieces must also be small enough to adequately lock together to provide lateral support to the foundation. The pieces must also resist settling over time. In general, the inventor has found that backfill pieces should be sized between ¾ inch and 1¾ inch in the preferred embodiments of the invention. In other embodiments of the invention, pieces in other shapes—such as rectangular, triangular, tubular, round, and tapered strips may be used.

[0014] Backfill material 10 is used in foundation applications such as the building foundation 20 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3. Other foundation applications may include landscaping backfill applications such as retaining walls. Building foundation 20 generally includes a poured foundation footer 22 with a foundation wall 24 built on top of footer 22. Foundation wall 24 may be a poured wall or a block 26 wall. A waterproof coating 28 may be placed on the exterior surface of wall 24.

[0015] A drain pipe 30 is placed at the bottom of the overdig adjacent footer 22. Drain pipe 30 includes a plurality of openings 32 that allow water 34 to enter drain pipe 30 and be carried away from foundation 20. Backfill material 10 is placed over drain pipe 30 in the overdig. Backfill material 10 is disposed against foundation wall 24 over substantially the entire height of wall 24. Top soil 36 is placed on top of backfill material 10.

[0016] Backfill material 10 does not settle and does not create large lateral forces against foundation wall 24. There is thus little chance that foundation wall 24 will bow inwardly or collapse. Backfill material is sized to not clog openings 32. Backfill material 10 further allows water to quickly drain through material 10 where it can be moved away through drain pipe 30. The material is ⅙ the weight of gravel.

[0017] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

[0018] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 

1. A foundation comprising: a footer; a foundation wall disposed on the footer; a drain pipe disposed adjacent the footer, the drain pipe defining openings; a backfill material disposed over the drain pipe and adjacent the foundation wall; the backfill material disposed over substantially the entire height of the foundation wall; and the backfill material including rubber pieces.
 2. The foundation of claim 1, wherein the backfill material is fabricated from discarded pneumatic tires.
 3. The foundation of claim 1, further comprising top soil disposed over the backfill material.
 4. The foundation of claim 1, wherein the rubber pieces of the backfill material is sized in the range of ¾ inch by ¾ inch to 1¾ inch to 1¾ inch.
 5. The foundation of claim 4, wherein substantially all of the backfill material is rubber pieces.
 6. The foundation of claim 5, wherein the rubber pieces are from shredded tires.
 7. A foundation comprising: a foundation wall; a backfill material disposed adjacent the foundation wall; the backfill material disposed over substantially the entire height of the foundation wall; and the backfill material including rubber pieces.
 8. The foundation of claim 7, wherein the backfill material is fabricated from discarded pneumatic tires.
 9. The foundation of claim 7, further comprising top soil disposed over the backfill material.
 10. The foundation of claim 7, wherein the backfill material includes pieces having an average size of one inch square.
 11. The foundation of claim 7, wherein the rubber pieces of the backfill material is sized in the range of ¾ inch by ¾ inch to 1¾ inch to 1¾ inch.
 12. The foundation of claim 11, wherein substantially all of the backfill material is rubber pieces.
 13. The foundation of claim 7, wherein substantially all of the backfill material is rubber pieces.
 14. The foundation of claim 7, further comprising a drain pipe disposed under the backfill material; the drain pipe having openings.
 15. The foundation of claim 14, wherein the rubber pieces are sized larger than the drain openings of the drain pipe.
 16. A foundation comprising: a footer; a vertical foundation wall disposed on the footer, the vertical foundation wall having an outer surface that is substantially vertical; a drain pipe disposed adjacent the footer outside the vertical outer surface of the foundation wall, the drain pipe defining openings sized smaller than ¾ inch; a backfill material disposed over the drain pipe; the backfill material contacting the vertical outer surface of the foundation wall; the backfill material disposed over substantially the entire height of the foundation wall; top soil disposed over the top of the backfill material; and the backfill material including rubber pieces that limit the lateral force of the backfill material against the foundation wall; the rubber pieces of the backfill material being sized in the range of ¾ inch by ¾ inch to 1¾ inch to 1¾ inch to prevent compression.
 17. The foundation of claim 16, wherein the rubber pieces of the backfill material average 1 inch by 1 inch.
 18. The foundation of claim 16, wherein the rubber pieces of the backfill material are fabricated from shredded tires. 